AN IMPORTANT PERSONALITY IN THE HISTORY OF PAKISTAN. DEWAN BAHADUR S.P SINGHA. April 26, 2016 (2016-04)

Dewan S.P. Singha is an important personality in the history of Pakistan. He was born on April 26, 1893 in Pasroor, Punjab. He belonged to a royal Rajput family of Pasroor (Distric Sialkot) but settled in Lahore, where they had good property and businesses. His family was known by the title of Dewan and SP Singha also enjoyed the title of Dewan Bahadur. His father was a school teacher. He passed intermediate examination from F.C. College, Lahore and graduated from St. Stephen's College in Delhi. In 1936, he became a leader of All India Christian Association.

Punjab Assembly, in this connection has also certified that Dewan Bahadur Sataya Prakash Singha (S.P. Singha) remained Member, Punjab Legislative Council from 5th April 1937 to 16th March, 1945. He was again elected as Member, Punjab Legislative Assembly and served as Speaker from 21st March, 1946 to 4th July, 1947. He has the honour to preside over a special meeting held on 23rd June, 1947 of the western Section to decide whether or not the province of the Punjab be partitioned. Wherein, after voting on both sides i.e., western section and eastern section, the mumber of votes in favour of existing constituent Assembly remained 77, while votes in favour of separate constituent Assembly were 91. As a result of voting held on 23rd June, 1947 the Assembly stood divided and named as "West Punjab Legislative Assembly and the East Punjab Legislative Assembly. Dewan Bahadur Sataya Prakash Singha continued to be the Member of West Punjab Legislative Assembly till 25th January, 1949.

He is also recommended for his contribution in the field of education and social welfare of his community. He also served as Registrar in the Punjab University and worked for the improvement of examination system which won him many admirer and he was made a Dewan Bahadur. He died on October 22, 1949. He is buried in the Christian Graveyard (Gora Qabristan) Jail Road, Lahore

On Recognizing the Services of Dewan Bahadar S.P. Singha, a commemorative postage stamp of Rs. 10/- denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on April 26, 2016.

NATIONAL BOOK DAY. April 22, 2016 (2016-03)

Read, said the Angel to Mohammad (S.AW.W), This was Almighty's first command to his Apostle, making him the Messenger and Ambassador of his Book to all mankind. His task from that day onwards would be to spread His word to the four corners of the earth so that all human beings may read and know what was written in the Quran, the Book of divine wisdom for all time to come.

From the conception of an idea to its preservation and from the antiquity to the modern day life of scientific and technological advancement, books have been playing the most pivotal role in the growth of human mind and civilization. A good book invigorates spirit, fires imagination and instills the capacity to experience the aesthetics life. As a trusted companion book instills peace inside the reader and helps him make a rewarding journey into the realms of knowledge.

Books also have a vital role to play in promoting moral and social awareness as well as intellectual and moral development of human being. Book has retained its place in present global knowledge economy despite proliferation and expansion of knowledge, technology, in numerous forms.

National Book Day is celebrated on 22nd April every year with the aim to promote books, book culture and reading habits in the public.

The observance of National Book Day every year on 22nd April's not only provides an opportunity to the book lovers to buy the book of their choice at handsome discounted price but it also provides opportunity to meet and exchange views with legendary writers, poets, performers, intellectuals and educationists, etc.

On National Book Day, a commemorative postage stamp of Rs.8/-denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on April 22, 2016.

ON WATER CONSERVATION (WAPDA) March 22, 2016 (2016-02)

Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) is a federal autonomous body that came into existence through an Act of parliament in 1958. The Authority comprises of a Chairman, three Members / MD (Water / Power & Finance) and a Secretary. The Government of Pakistan had assigned WAPDA the responsibility for optimal utilization of Water and Power Resources in the country. Simultaneously, it was also given the task of planning of Hydel Generation, Designing, Construction and installation of transmission and distribution Line. In 2007, through an Ordinance WAPDA was restructured / bifurcated into two separate entities l.e. WAPDA and PEPCO. The functions of Hydro Power and Water Sector Construction, Generation, Operation and Maintenance of Power Houses remained with WAPDA whereas the distribution (DISCOS) Generation of Thermal Power (GENCOs) and transmission of electricity (NTDC) were placed at disposal of PEPCO.

WAPDA appreciates the collaborated efforts, collective wisdom and support, provided by the various organization and other agencies of Provisional / Federal Government as well as the Donor Agencies i.e. IDB, World Bank, ADB, AFD, KFW. CIDA, Kuwait Fund, OPEC, SFD, Chinese Government, China Exim Bank Korean Investment Bank, USAID etc.

Wapda Hydel Power Stations produced 31,306 Million kWh Net Energy during the FY 2013-14 which is 34% of the total Hydel / Thermal Generation Mix of the Power System. Up-gradation & Refurbishment of Mangla Power Station has been started with the assistance of USAID. Feasibility Study and detail design for rehabilitation, up-gradation and modernization of Warsak Power Station has been completed which will ensure the running of the plant at its full capacity of 243 MW while. feasibility study of new Warsak Power House 300MW is under finalization. Planning work for up-gradation of Renala and Chitral Hydol Power Station is under progress which envisages enhancing their capacity from 01 MW to 04 MW and 01 MW to 05 MW respectively. Besides, Special Repair and Maintenance of Terbela Power Station is also being carried out under FARA/USAID.

Water Wing of WAPDA is responsible for planning, Designining and execution of Water Resources Development Projects in the Sector of Irrigation, drainage, and Hydro Power. Inter provincial major surface Water Projects including large dams are also operated and maintained by Water Wing, WAPDA

Indus Basin Projects (05 Barages, 08 Inter River Link Canal 1965-70, Mangla (1967) and Terbela Dam (1976) have already been completed by WAPDA Water wing and are contributing substantially, towards national economy.

Chashma Hydel Power Project having a generation capacity of 184MW of electricity has been operating since 2001. Ghazi Brotha Hydro Power Project with a generation capacity of 1450 MW of electricity has been functioning since 2003. National Drainage programe in four provinces has been completed since 2007.

More recently, Sabakzai Dam Project and Greater Thal Canal acres (Phase-1) have been completed in 2009 which are cultivating 6875 and 355,000 respectively. Mirani Dam Project has been completed and is in operation. Mangla Dam Raising Project has been completed in December 2009 and the project also in operation.

Commercial Operation of Khan Khawar HPP (72MW) started in November 2010. Satpara Dam has also started commercial operation 02 units in October 2007 and December 2008 and remaining two units in June 2013. Allai Khwar HPP (121MW) and Jinnah HPP (96MW) are also in commercial operation since March 2013 and October 2013 respectively. Duber Khwar HPP (130 MW) is also substantially completed and will start commercial operation within a month.

Gomal Zam Dam component has been completed, while work on irrigation. Component is in progress. Work on Rainee Canal (Phase-I), Kachhi Canal (Phase-1) and on drainage schemes RBOD-I & III in Sindh and Balochistan in progress. The infrastructure construction work of Diamer Bhasha Dam (4500 MW) is under progress. The other Dams namely Kurram Tangi Dam (83.4 MW), Akhori Dam (600 MW) & Mohmand Dam Hydro Power Project (740 MW) are also under Tendering and Design Stage.

Neelum Jhelum 969 MW, Golan Gol (106 MW) & Tarbela 4th Extension 1410 MW HPPs are under construction. Lower Palas Valley 665 MW and lower Spat Gah 496 MW are being constructed on Public Private Partnership Mode.

All study of Dasu HPP 4320 MW being financed by World Bank are complete and tendering is expected to be under taken soon. Feasibility Study of Thakot 2800 MW, Basho 40 MW, Harpo 34.5 MW and Patan 2800 MW is in progress.

In addition WAPDA has initiated construction work on 12 small medium Dams, these projects are located in provinces of Pakistan. Balochistan, Sindh, KPK and Punjab.

WAPDA has taken up linning of Muzaffargarh Canal to control Water Logging due to Muzaffargarh and T.P Link Canal. WAPDA has also carried out a detailed study of a pilot project on lining of main Canal (Dadu, Rice Rohari at Upper reach).

In addition to this special research has been initiated on Glacial Monitoring in the wake of global warming and future strategy to store / conserve the additional water from the melting of Glaciers.

WAPDA has initiated work on inland Water Ways Transportation System PC-II has been submitted to Govt of Pakistan to obtain official permission undertake the feasibility study. WAPDA is also dealing studies on the potential of storing water in underground shells during Floods and near hill Torrents.

WAPDA Sports Board was established in 1960 for promotion of sports in Wapda with the ultimate goal of increasing the organizations participation at the national level. It obtained affiliation with the Pakistan Olympic Association in 1984. WAPDA has shown noteworthy achievements in the field of sports by wining 137medals. (Gold, Bronze and Silver) in the national games.

WAPDA earnest endeavors are reflecting of its commitment to support the national economy and help in poverty alleviation through improved Hydel Thermal Mix of Power generation, provision of electricity at affordable rates and above all perspective planning and timely execution of projects to meet Water and Power demands of the growing population.

On Water Conservation" (WAPDA), a commemorative postage stamp of Rs.8/-denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on March 22, 2016.

50 YEARS OF SAFE OPERATION OF 1ST NUCLEAR REASEARCH REACTOR IN PAKISTAN (PINSTECH ISLAMABAD -1965-2015) February 10, 2016 (2016-01)

The year 2015 marks 50 glorious years of Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH) preeminence and excellence in scientific and technical achievements. PINSTECH is a research institute of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC). Pakistan in its early days faced a challenge of lack of qualified scientific manpower and technology infrastructure. Right from the beginning, PAEC had full realization of these facts and had a clear vision of the requirements in terms of trained manpower and technical infrastructure for pursuing an indigenous nuclear power programme. PINSTECH as an institute of international stature was conceived by late Dr. I. H. Usmani, former chairman PAEC and Dr. Abdus Salam, a Nobel Laureate and was unveiled in 1965. Dr. Usmani very esthetically selected the site about 20 kilometers south east of Islamabad at Nilore. Agreement for its design that blends eastern elegance with modern technology of the West in neo-Mughal splendor was signed with Edward Durrel Stone, famous American architect. In 1966 the architect won American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Professional Award for PINSTECH project. PINSTECH houses the Pakistan's first research reactor called Pakistan Research Reactor-1 (PARR-1). On 21st December 2015 PARR-1, the first nuclear research reactor in the whole Muslim World, is also completing 50 years of its safe operation.

Over last five decades PINSTECH has matured as premier research institution of the country and an internationally recognized center for research in multidisciplinary fields which includes chemistry, physics, computational physics, material science, metallurgy, health & environmental safety, radioisotope production/applications, nuclear engineering, reactor fuel development, electronics, information technology, computer science and human resource development. The institute has some of the most advanced operational research facilities with wide ranging sophisticated equipment and highly qualified and skilled scientists and engineers. It has rendered technical support to industry, research institutes, medical and agricultural centers in areas such as radiation and isotope applications, radiation monitoring, mechanical testing and failure analysis, water resource research, electronics and computers. It has not only made significant contributions to the peaceful applications of nuclear technology but has also helped upgrade the overall level of scientific research culture in the country.

Presently, apart from continuous R&D in major disciplines of science & technology, PINSTECH is pursuing some very important applied projects like Production of Radioisotopes and Radiopharmaceuticals, fuel fabrication for PARR-1, development of linear accelerator for medical use, services related to radiological safety & protection, material synthesis & characterization and applied work in hydrology. industry and environment. The efforts in all these activities are supported with up to-date facilities for quality control, analytical services and extensive reservoir of scientific information. Different analytical laboratories equipped with high tech instruments and its skilled manpower are providing services to PAEC, public and private sector organizations. The production of radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals for use in the nuclear medical centers and for other applications, has been a unique feature of the institute. PINSTECH is catering the needs of 36 private and public medical centers all over Pakistan for radiopharmaceuticals and radioisotopes. The institute has an inimitable library that was declared as the National Library of Physical Sciences by Ministry of Science and Technology in 2002.

PINSTECH for its outstanding contribution to the advancement of science and technology in Pakistan was declared a winner of the Islamic Development Bank award in Science and Technology in 2002 and was declared "the best S&T institution" in the Islamic world. Various scientific and technological developments at PINSTECH have shaped the scientific and technological landscape of the country. The Institute has a very strong interaction with the international and national scientific community. The research and supporting facilities of the Institute are utilized by students and faculty members of different national universities. Many scientists of the Institutes have also been awarded Ph.D. degrees by local universities on the basis of their research work. PINSTECH has very strong collaboration with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and has actively taken part in the Regional Cooperative Agreement (RCA) among 21 countries of the South East Asia and the Pacific region for over four decades. Numerous scientists associated with the Institute have also won national and international awards as recognition of their work.

On Completion of 50 Years of Safe Operation of First Nuclear Research Reactor in Pakistan, a commemorative postage stamp of Rs.8-denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on February 10, 2016.

HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN 1957 DIAMOND JUBILEE.2017. December 08, 2017 (2017-12)

The year-long celebration commencing from 11th July, 2017 to 11 July, 2018, marks the Diamond Jubilee of the imamat of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Imami Muslim Community. The commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee is in keeping with the Community's longstanding tradition of marking historic milestones.

Driven by the ethics of faith and the imam's hereditary responsibility to improve quality of life, His Highness has been at the forefront of innovation and development during the 60 years of his imamat. He is the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), one of the most comprehensive development network today, with over 10.000 employees. The AKDN operates in over 30 countries, principally in Central and South Asia, Eastern and Western Africa and the Middle East.

Inspired by the islamic ethic of compassion and responsibility of care for the needy, the AKDN works for the Muslim Ummah and the societies within which they live, addressing key challenges related to human development regardless of gender, origin, or religion. The AKON institutions have mandates ranging from health and educalion to architecture, microfinance, disaster reduction, rural development, promotion of private-sector enterprise and the revitalisation of historic cities all of which are catalysts for socio-economic development. Together, they contribute towards building a vibrant civil society that caters to the needs of vulnerable segments. The AKDN works in close partnership with public and private institutions, including governments, international organisations, NGOs, and universities

The AKON operates more than 200 health care institution, 2 universities and 200 schools in some of the most remote and disadvantaged parts of the developing world. Each year, among numerous interventions, the AKDN provides quality health care to 5,000,000 people, introduces school improvement programmes for 2.000.000 studerits from preschool to university level, generates electricity for 10,000,000 people, and helps 8,000,000 achieve greater food security and raise household incomes

During the 60 years of imamat, the AKDN institutions in Pakistan have made significant contributions in the social, economic and cultural development of the country.

The AKDN provides vital medical and educational facilities to a large segment of the country's vulnerable popolation. The Aga Khan University Hospital and related medical facilities have proven to be a game changer in raising the quality of health care in Pakistan. It continues to be the beacon for medical breakthrough with renowned medical facilities and a highly reputed medical school.

The Aga Khan also established the first Aga Khan School in Gwader in 1905. Since then, education facilities under the AKDN have expanded to more than 160 schools operating in some of the most remote areas of Pakistan, The AKON in Pakistan is artiongat the first to recognise the critical, long term impact of Early Childhood Development, and has thus implemented innovative and interactive programmes in its schools.

Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, established in 1982 by the Aga Khan Foundation, has greatly improved the socio-economic conditions in the rural areas of Pakistan, through rural development projects such as training to improve skills and creating access to finance, and the provision of facilities resulting in access to clean water and electricity.

AKDN projects to restore historical forts and monuments such as the Walled City of Lahore have not only helped preserve culture but also encouraged tourism and economic development in rural and urban areas of Pakistan.

In 2006. His Highness and the Canadian govemment established the Global Centre for Pluralism in Ottawa with the goal to advance respect for diversity worldwide, with a belief that openness towards, and understanding of cultures, social structures, values and faiths of other peoples is essential to the survival of an interdependent world. His Highness believes diversity should inspire, not divide, and that enhancing pluralism is a crucial building block for constructing peaceful and successful civil societies

Decorations, Awards and Degress

In recognition of his exceptional efforts and contributions to human development and improving the social condition of societies-globalfy, His Highness has, over the last six decades, received numerous decorations, honorary degrees and awards from institutions and governments around the world. In Pakistan, His Highness has been awarded the following honours:

Ø  Nishan-e-Imtiaz (1970)

Ø  Nishan-e-Pakistan -Pakistan (1983)

Ø  LLD (honoris causa) University of Peshawar (1967)

Ø  LLD (honoris causa) University of Sindh (1970)

Ø  Honorary Membership, Pakistan Medical dical Associaton (1981)

Ø  Honorary Fellowship of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) (1985)

On Diamond Jubilee of His Highness The Aga Khan (1967-2017), the Commemorative Postage Stamps of Rs. 10/- denomination is (Slat of 6) are being issued by Pakistan Post on December 08, 2017